Trailer



R. KoETs 2,148,270

TRAILER Filed Jan. 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 21, 1939.

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TRAILER Filed Jan. 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,5 m my @a ow I WM M f @y ranma rel, 2,1, 1,9391," l, i i .2,148,2701;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAILER Raymond Koets, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 7, 1937, serial No. 119,412

7 Claims. (Cl. 29623) 'I'his invention relates to trailers, and more provide supporting sills in the bed of the trailer particularly is directed to trailers for passenger body which can be laterally extended to lsupport vehicles and the like to be used for camping and the floor extension, and which carry hinged jack recreation purposes. means at their outer ends capable of being swung One of the main disadvantages of trailer condownwardly to support the outer ends of the 5 struotions with which I am familiar is the bulk sills from the ground. i i and size of the trailer, whereby it places a con- The trailer of the present invention essentially siderable load upon the automobile or other towcomprises a floor portion having permanent end ing medium, and produces increased wind rewalls, a roof portion having end portions in tele- 10 sistance. At the saine time, the size of such scoping relation to said end walls whereby upon l0 trailers, if they are to be used as living quarters, raising of the roof the end portions form vertiis such as to prfsent an undue hazard in driving, cal continuations of the end wals, complementary due to their width and height. y side wall portions hinged to the side edges of the 'I'he present invention broadly contemplates a roof and floor and swinging outwardly to form l5 trailer which, when being towed, is of minimum lateral roof and floor extensions when the `roof 15 height and width, being no higher than the cusis raised, folding wall members carried by said tomary automobiles now in common use. Furside Wall portions for forming longitudinal sides ther, the width of the trailer during travel is at the outer edges of said extensions, and end no greater than the width of the towing vehicle, closing wall members hinged to the edges of said thereby greatlyfacilitating its handling in trafend walls and movable outwardly to form end 20 ilc and materially decreasing its windvresistance closures for the lateral extensions. Associated. at customary touring speeds. In addition, the with these dominant features of the present weight of the trailer, due to improved features of trailer construction are a number of ancillary construction and design, is reduced to an extent features, such as weatherproong means between such that the power consumption and load the wall portions, window and door arrangement, 25 stresses required in towing the same are maininterior arrangement of the furnishings for the tained at a minimum. trailer, and the mechanical operating and latch- One of the primary objects of the present ining mechanism, which produce, in the structure, vention is to provide a trailer which can be exdesirable featurespf compactness, arrangements tended both vertically and laterally to provide, and design, all contributing to the provision of 30 when parked, a room having a ceiling height and a trailer construction having the characteristics floor area sufficient to afford comfortable living described. quarters, and when collapsed for travelling pre- Other objects and advantages of the present sents material advantages of decreased wind reinvention will be more apparent from the folsistance, lightweight and easy mobility. lowing detailed description which, taken in con- 35 Another object of the present invention is to junction with the accompanying drawings, will provide a construction wherein the lateral roof disclose to those skilled in the art the partcuar and iioor extensions serve also as the side closconstruction and operation of a preferred form ing members for the'trailer body when the trailer of the present invention.

40 is placed in condition for travelling. In the drawings: 40

Stillanother advantage of the present inven- Figure l. is a perspective view of the trailer in tion is the provision of raising and lowering condition for travelling; means for the roof and lateral roof extensions Figure 2 is a similar view showing the trailer whereby these portions of the trailer may be easextended in position for occupancy; ily raised and lowered conjointly, and which will Figure 3 is a side elevational viewof the trailer 45 maintain these portions in tightly clamped poin travelling position; sition to avoid movement or vibration when the Figure 4 is a Vfront elevational View of the trailer is being towed. tralier as shown in Figure 3; A One of the advantages attained by the present Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the trailer` construction is that the floor space of the trailer in extended position; 50 -can be more than doubled when the trailer is y Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the trailer made ready foroccupancy, the two lower portions as shown in Figure 5;

of the side walls being swung outwardly to form Figure '7 is a iioorfplan View of the trailer;

floor extensions `coplanar `with the iloor of the Figure 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustra- 55, trailer `body. In connection with this feature I tion of the roof elevating mechanism;

provided with a tongue Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the elevating mechanism;

Figure is a sectional view illustrating the linkage for swinging out the roof extensions;

Figures 11 to 13 illustrate the latching mechanism for holding the side wall members and extensions in clamped position; and

Figure 14 is a transverse section through a portion of the trailer body illustrating the floor and side wall extensions.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the trailer bed is indicated generally at 5 and is provided with front and rear end walls 6 and 1, respectively, which may be arcuate in shape if desired or may be contoured to produce any desired appearance. In the front end of the trailer, the wall 6 is provided with a guard plate 8 which accommodates the hitching mechanism whereby the trailer is secured to the towing vehicle such as a passenger automobile or the like. The trailer is also provided with a roof portion 9 preferably formed of light weight construction with a waterproof cover stretched thereover and suitably painted or treated in any desired manner. The walls 6 and 1 of the truck may be formed of plywood, composition board or the like of relatively light weight which are treated or painted in any desired manner to provide a protective coating thereover and which preferably are formed with an air space therein (not shown) which may, if desired, be lled with insulating material.

It is to be understood that the particular construction of the structural panels which form the trailer body may be varied widely within the scope of the present invention, and any suitable or well known panel or wall construction may be employed.

The trailer body is preferably mounted upon a pair of wheels I0, suitably supported upon an axle extending transversely of the vehicle and preferably resiliently secured by means of springs to the under surface of the bed 5 of the trailer. If desired, a caster wheel may be provided at the front end oi' the trailer in order to support the same when it is disconnectedfrom the towing vehicle but this is not essential to the present invention.v

Considering now Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, in connection with the construction of the trailer body, the bed5 has hinged to opposite longitudinal edges, the panel members I 2 which are adapted to be swung outwardly from the vertical position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 to the horizontal position shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6. These panels therefore, in effect, form side closing members when the trailer is positioned for travelling, and form lateral extensions of the iioor when the trailer is arranged for occupancy. While I have shown this member as being provided with hinged supports at three points on the bed 5 of the veahicle, it is to be understood that it may, of

course, be hinged at any number of points found necessary or desirable.

Hingedv to the outer edges I3 of the members is asecond panel or wall member I4, whichis and groove engagement, indicated at I5, for providing a weatherproof connection therebetween when the member I4 is swung into a position at right angles to the member I3 as indicated at I4 in Figure 14. This provides the first upwardly extending portion of the longitudinal side wall formed at the outer ends of the lateral floor extensions I2 and is folded within the trailer body, as indicated in full lines in Figure 14, when the members I2 are folded upwardly to form the lower side closing panels as illustrated in Figures l and 4.

Hinged to the outer end of the member I4 is a third panel member I6 which is adapted to swing from the position shown at I6 in Figure 14 to the position shown at I6 to form a vertical continuation of the extended side wall I4. This member folds between the members I2 and I4 when the trailer is in collapsed position.

In order to support the floor extensions I2 when they are moved outwardly of the trailer body, I provide channel shaped sill members I1 which are adapted to have transverse sliding movement with respect to the car body on the guide channels I8, as indicated in Figure 5, and which move laterally out of the sides of the vehicle body to form sill supports for the opposite laterally extending floor extensions. These sills serve to provide support for the floor panels I2 at opposite ends thereof, and are preferably provided with hinged jack members I9 which can be swung into the dotted line position shown in Figure 14 when the sills are moved into the bed 5 to accommodate the jacks within the channel of the sills, but which swing outwardly when the sills are extended and serve to support the outer ends of the sills upon the ground or other supporting surface therebetween providing a strong and rigid support for the lateral floor extensions.

The roof 9 of the trailer is provided with end portions 23 and 24, preferably having windows formed therein as indicated at 25, and each of which comprises spaced members adapted to have telescoping relation with respect to the end walls 6 and. 1 of the trailer body. Preferably, suitable weather stripping or the like'is provided between the lower edges of the wall portions 23 and 24 and the surface of the Walls 6 and 1 in order to prevent drafts or passage of extraneous material into the interior ,of the vehicle. If desired, these walls may be formed with a screen on the outer wall member which fits over the outer surface of the members 6.and 1 and with windows on the interior wall member which fits within the walls 6 and 1 thereof, although this arrangement of course is optional. The roof 9, together with the Walls 23 and 24, is adapted to have vertical movement relative to the bed 5 and fixed end walls 6 and 1.

Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the roof 9 is in collapsed positionwith the walls 6 and 1 extending up into the Walls 23 and 24 to a point immediately adjacent ,the lower edge of the roof. However,` when the roof is raisedffrom the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, the walls 23 and 24 are raised Wtih respect to the walls 6 and 1 until the lower edges of these walls move into a position adjacent the upper edges of the walls 6 and 1. 'I'hus the l height of the trailer from the floor to the undersurface of the roof may be increased, for example, from 4 to 1 by this telescoping arrangement, there'by giving sufficient height within the trailer to enable the occupants thereof to stand therein while yet affording `in the collapsed position, a compact structure which does not occupy as much height as isv normally taken by the well known types of automobiles,. thus materially decreasing the Wind resistance of the trailer when attached to the vehicle.

Hinged to the opposite longitudinal edges of the roof intermediate the walls 23 and 24, are the roof extension panels or members 26 which may be hinged to the roof in a manner'somewhat similar to the manner in which the floor extension members I2 are hinged to the bed or iioor 5 of the trailer. At each end of the members 26 I provide an actuating arm 21 as shown in detail in Figure 10, rigidly secured to the inner surface of the members 26 and having an extending arm portion 28 pivoted as at 29 to an actuating link 30 which, in turn, is provided with a fixed pivot 32 secured to the end walls 6 and 1 of the trailer. When the roof is raised from the dotted line position shown in Figure 9 to the full line position, the link 30 forces the arm portion 28 of the arm 21 outwardly to cause the panel or roof extension member 26 to rotate about its pivots y 33 away from the depending vertical position indicated in dotted lines in Figure l0, into a laterally extending position forming a continuation of the roof 9 at opposite sides of the vehicle.

The roof 9 is preferably provided with an overhanging portion 34 forming a seal or guard for the hinge connection 33 in order to prevent the entrance of moisture or the like therebetween, and both the panel member 26 and the roof are provided with a suitable weather-proong joint corresponding to the joint indicated at I5 in Figure 14. Hinged to the outer edges of the members 26 are the panel members 35 which swing outwardly and downwardly as the members 26 are moved outwardly upon raising of the roof il to come into engagement with the upper edges of the members I6 as` shown in Figure 6, thereby forming a continuation of the extended side wall formed by the members I4 and I6 to` provide a closed side wall at the extended edges of the floor and roof extensions I2 and 26. The members 35 preferably carry a plurality of windows 31 therein. forming windows in the extended side walls of the trailer when the roof is in raised position.

In order to close the ends of the laterally extending portions of the vehicle, I provide vertically hinged wall members 31, 3B. 39 and 40 which are hinged to the respective edges of the xed walls 6 and 1. The walls 31 to 40 swing in a horizontal plane from a position within the trailer body, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure '1, to a position extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the trailer body as indicated in full lines in Figure 7.

Each of the walls 31 to 4D is composed of hinged sections which are indicated by the corresponding primed reference numbers 31 to 4U. 'I'he upper portions of these walls swing downwardly about horizontal pivots into the dotted line positions shown in Figure 6 when the roof is to be lowered so that the upper edges of the walls are of no greater vertical height than the walls 6 and 1. However, when the roof is in raised position 'and the walls 31 to 40 are swung outwardly,` the sections 31 to 4U are then raised upwardly to close in the space formed above the tops of the walls by reasonv of the extent to which the roof has been raised.

As shown in detail in Figure '1, I preferably provide a joint engagement, indicated at 42, between the vertical edges of the walls 31 to 40, and the corresponding vertical edges of the side walls formed by the members I4, I6 and 35. This provides suitable Weather-proong between these meeting edges, and additional weatherprooflng may be provided between the roof extension members 26 and the top edges of the wall portions 31 `to 40.

Considering now in detail the interior oi the trailer, at the forward end thereof I preferably provide a shelf indicated at 45 which extends horizontally within the recess formed by the angularly extending portions forming the wall 6. This shelf may contain a sink, storage cabinets and the like. Hinged to the outer edge of the lshelf is a table 46 which may be swung downwardly when not in use,'and may be swung upwardly into horizontal position when it is desired to use the table. Mounted on the inside surface of the wall 39 is a. stove 41 which swings outwardly with this vwall into position over the Hoor extension I2, and which swings inwardly with the wall into a position adjacent the shelf 45 and on one side of the table 46. Similarly, the wall 40 carries a refrigerator 48 which is conjointly movable therewith into and out of the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7.

The upper portions of the wheels II) of the ve- `llicle are enclosed within suitable recesses formed in the floor or bed 5 of the trailer body, and studio couches 49 or the like may be mounted thereover in such position as to be extended 'laterally into the lateral extensions of the trailer when the trailer is in position for occupancy.

In order to securev the wall members 31 to 40 to the walls I4, I6 and 35, and to the iioor and roof extensions I2 and 26, I provide suitable latching means illustrated in detail in Figures 1l to 13. This latching mechanism is also employed for securing the lower edge of the panel 35 to the upper edge of the panel I6 and for securing the meeting edges of the floor and roof extensions I2 and 26 together when the trailer is in the collapsed position shown in Figure l.

The locking mechanism comprises a plate member 50, provided with suitable openings 52 for receiving screws or the like, which is adapted to be set in a recessed portion of the meeting edge of a wall, such as the wall or oor extension I2 as indicated in Figure 11. In the cooperating member such as the member 26 shown in Figure 1l, I provide a lateral recess 53 and a longitudinal recess..54. A suitable latching member 55 having an extending curved finger or hook portion 56 is first inserted into the recess54 subsequent to the insertion of the bushing or clip 51 in the rear end .of the recess 53. The stud member 56 is then driven into the bushing 51 locking it in fixed position therein, and at the same time has the squared portion 59 thereof driven through a suitably formed aperture 60 in the member 55 to lock the member 55 to the stud for conjoint rotation therewith. The plate member 50 is provided with two longitudinal slots 62 which are adapted to be successively engaged by the hooked portion 56 or the member 55 when the spindle 58 is rotated by means of a suitable key secured over the extending end portion 63 of the spindle, whereby the hook is rotated through one aperture 62 into the recess in the member I2 and thence outwardly through the other aperture 62, thereby camming the meeting edges of the members I2 and 26 into rm engagement. This locking means is indicated generally at 65m Figures 1 and 2, and it is to be understood that it may be provided at any point where such latching engagement is found necessary or desirable.

At the centers of the end walls 6 and 1, I provide suitable sockets 10 and 12 which are adapted to receive the operating mechanism whereby the roof may be raised and lowered.

Considering in detail Figures 8, 9 and 14, the operation of this mechanism will now be described.

Extending longitudinally within the bed 5 in a-suitable channel provided for that purpose, is

Iii

the shaft 13 which may be supported in Isuitable bearings or brackets in any desired manner as is well known in the art. The rear end of the shaft 13 projects outwardly from the end wall 1 and is adapted to carry a crank 14 for effecting rotation of this shaft. The shaft 13 is provided with a pair of bevel gears 15 at opposite ends 'thereof which are adapted to have meshing engagement with corresponding gears 16 carried by vertically extending thread shafts 11. The roof 9 is provided with a pair of depending tubular elements 'i8 secured to opposite ends thereof adjacent the walls 23 and 24 and within these walls, which members 18, as indicated in more detail in Figure 9 are provided with thickened end portions 19 threaded internally to receive the thread shaft 11.

Suitable stop means 80 is provided at the upper end of each of the shafts 11 and has seating engagement, as indicated at 82, with the thickened portion 19 of the tubes 18. Mounted on the iioor of the trailer is a guide tube 83 which has an internal diameter closely fitting about the external surface of the threaded arms 18. The guide tubes 83 extend upwardly from the floor 5 of the trailer a distance suiiicient to accommodate the axial movement of the members 18 in the raising and lowering of theroof. Suitable thrust bearings 84 and 85 are provided for taking the weight of the roof during the raising and lowering movements.

In the operation of this structure, when the shaft 13 is rotated it produces conjoint rotation of the threaded vertically extending shafts 11. The rotation of these shafts cause the members 18 to move vertically with respect thereto, thus raising the roof when the shaft 13 is rotated in one direction, and drawing the roof downwardly into the locked position shown in Figure 9 when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction. This provides the desired raising and lowering movement, and insures that the roof when in lowered position will be positively clamped by means of the engagement between the member 80 and the thickened portion 19 of the members 18 so that no relative vibration or movement may take place. This is a decided advantage in producing a quiet and positively locked structure. It is. of course, to be understood that other suitable threaded screw actuating arrangements might be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 5 it will be noted that a door 90 has been formed in the rear wall 1 of the trailer body and is vertically hinged as indicated at 92. The door is so constructed that its upper edge when the roof is in raised position, is disposed immediatlybelow the window 93, as indicated at 94 in Figure 5. The window 93 is hinged to the wall portion 24 for swinging movement in a horizontal plane in order to accommodate movement of the door when the roof is in lowered position although the window is adapted to be locked in xed position when the roof is raised, the door in such case being free to move due to the clearance indicated at 9| which may be protected by suitable felt weather stripping or the like (not shown).

It is therefore believed apparent that I have provided a trailer structure having all the desired features of decreased wind resistance, lightweight and easy mobility when travelling, combined with the features of providing adequate living quarters and convenient arrangement of the interior when ready for occupancy. Due to the light weight construction of the panel members, the trailer may be readily raised into extended position or collapsed for travelling by a single individual, and if desired, the shaft 13 may be connected directly to the towing vehicle so as to be operated automatically by that vehicle instead of by the crank 14.

I do not intend to limit the present invention to the Vexact details shown and described, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, a trailer body having a permanent fioor and end walls, a roof having end portions telescoping with said end walls and movable vertically to form extensions thereof, means for raising and lowering said roof, complementary side wall portions hinged to the sides of said roof and floor for closing the sides of said body when said roof is lowered, said side wall portions forming lateral extensions of said roof and floor respectively when said roof is raised, means hinged to the free longitudinal edges of said extensions forming secondary complementary side wall portions when in extended position, and end wall means hinged to the vertical edges of said fixed end walls to provide end closing walls for said lateral extensions, said lastnamed means including horizontally hinged upper portions closing the portions of said extensions disposed between the top plane of said fixed end walls and said lateral roof extension, said end wall means extending beyond the joining edges of said secondary side wall portions to support the same in a vertical plane.

2. In a trailer body, a iioor having vertically extending end walls, a roof having vertically depending end portions telescoping with said end walls, means for raising said roof whereby said end portions form vertical extensions of said end walls, panel members hinged at one edge thereof to the sides of said roof, link means secured to said end walls and to said panel members for swinging said panel members laterally outwardly upon raising of said roof to form lateral extensions of said roof, means hinged to the opposite edges of said panel members for forming vertically depending side walls when said panel members are swung outwardly, floor extensions hinged along one edge to the sides of said floor, said extensions swinging outwardly upon raising of said roof to form coplanar lateral extensions of said floor, and means hinged to the opposite edges of said floor extensions and including supplemental panel means of a width equal to the height the roof is raised and adapted for outward rotary movement into locked alinement with said depending side walls to complete said side walls between said roof and floor extensions.

3. In a trailer body, a floor having vertically extending end walls, a roof having vertically depending end portions telescoping with said end walls, means for raising said roof whereby said end portions form vertical extensions of said end walls, panel members hinged at one edge thereof to the sides of said roof, link means secured to said end walls and to said panel members for conjointly swinging said panel members laterally outwardly upon raising of said roof to form lateral extensions of said roof, means hinged to the opposite edges of said panel members for forming vertically depending side walls l when said panel members are swung outwardly,

floor extensions hinged along one edge to the sides of said floor, said extensions swinging outwardlyV upon raising of said roof to form coplanar lateral extensions of said floor, hinged double panels hingedly mounted/on the outer edges of the floor extensions and extensible vertically a height such as to engage said depending side walls to close the same when the roof is raised, and means hinged to the vertical edges of said end walls and movable into parallel planes normal to said extensions and said vertical side walls and panels for closing the ends of said extensions and reinforcing said side walls and panels against lateral deflection at the joints thereof, said lastnamed means having horizontally hinged sections whereby upon lowering of said roof said sections are i'oldable into the trailer body within the peripheral limits of said floor.

4. In a trailer, a' permanent floor having fixed vertical end walls, a weatherproof roof having iixed depending end wall portions telescoping said end walls and forming closed vertical extensions thereof ,when said roof is raised, side wall means hinged to the longitudinal edges of said roof between said end wall portions and extending partially down toward the side edges oi.' said iioor when said roof is in lowered position, complementary side wall means hinged to said edges of said iloor and including supplemental folding portions adapted to compensate for the distance through which the rooi' is raised for closing the remaining portion ofthe sides of said trailer between said end walls, and means locking the meeting edges of both said side wall means in closed position to completely close the sides of said trailer during transit.

5. The trailer of claim 4 characterized in the provision of means for raising and lowering said roof including means for automatically swinging said side wall means outwardly as said roof is raised to form lateral roof extensions.

'6. In a trailer, a permanent oor having xed vertical end walls, a closed roof having end wall portions xed thereto and in telescoping engagement with said end walls, means for raising and' lowering said roof, means hinged to the longitudinal edges oi said oor and roo! forming lateral oor and roof extensions when said roof is raised, means hinged to the free longitudinal edge of said roof extension and adapted to be swung into vertical depending position to form a depending side wall portion for said roof extension, means hinged to the tree edge of said floor extension and adapted to be swung upwardly into a side wall portion for said floor extension, said two side wail portions being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to that through which the roof is raised, and means hinged to the free edge of one of said side wall portions and movable into engagement with the free edge oi' the other side wall portion forming a closed side wall for said extensions.

7. The combination of claim 6 characterized by the provision of means hinged to the vertical edges of said fixed end walls and swinging into parallel planes normal to said extensions for closing the ends of said extensions.

RAYMOND KOEIB. 

